Chapter 9

We Can't Practice Today

µ's can't use the roof today. What should we do now?

Part 1

Rin: Ah, this stinks... Hanayo: We can't practice today because they're doing a rooftop inspection... I'm disappointed, too. Rin: That's right! Can we just practice somewhere else? Hanayo: I asked that same question, but another club is practicing in the courtyard, so we can't use that either... Rin: I see... So then what should we do to pass the day? Hanayo: I've only every practiced for µ's after school, so if we can't practice, then I don't know what to do... Rin: That's because you love being an idol, Hanayo... Hanayo: Uh... Heh heh... When I try to imagine what it would like if I had never joined µ's... It's kinda scary... Rin: Huh? Scary? Hanayo: When I first said "I'll do it," that was for µ's. If µ's wasn't around, then I don't know what I'd be doing now... Rin: Hanayo... Hanayo: I don't exercise, I'm an average student... All I did was check out idols. Hanayo: I thought that there wasn't anything that I could do... Hanayo: That's why I'm really glad that I can be a school idol with all of you... Hanayo: ...Even so, I still can't quite bring myself to call myself an idol yet. Heh heh... Rin: What are you saying, Hanayo? That's not true! Hanayo: Huh? Rin... Rin: You're not making any sense, Hanayo! Hanayo: Hu-huh? ...Why? Why're you getting angry, Rin? Did I say something to make you mad? Rin: It's because you're saying that you can't do anything! That's absolutely not true! Rin: You are absolutely an idol, Hanayo! You're an idol, and you won't lose to anyone! Hanayo: Rin! Rin: You're cute, and you're awesome at making rice balls, and your glasses look good on you! Rin: That's why I want you to stop saying bad things about yourself! Hanayo: Ri-Rin... I'm so happy.. Thank you, Rin! Rin: I'm not very good at giving compliments... But that's how I really feel! Hanayo: Yeah... Yeah! Hanayo: Back then... I'm here now because you and Maki cheered me on when it counted. Hanayo: If you two weren't there, then I... I wouldn't have joined µ's... So thank you... Truly. Thank you. Rin: If... If you weren't there, Hanayo, I wouldn't have become a member of µ's either! Hanayo: But... Rin: That's why I absolutely, positively need to thank you from the bottom of my heart, Hanayo! Hanayo: ...Hee hee. Rin: Uh... heh heh... Hanayo: I'm so glad that we joined µ's! And I'm really glad that we became school idols! Rin: Yeah! I think I'm incredibly lucky to be able to be with all of you and practice every day. Hanayo: Yeah... I brought rice balls for today's practice... But now we can't practice, so maybe I shouldn't have brought them? Rin: If you made the rice balls, Hanayo, then I'll eat them all! Hanayo: Hee hee! Let's eat them together, Rin! Rin: All right! I love you, Hanayo! Hanayo: Om nom... They're delicious. Rin: Om nom... I knew it, Hanayo. Your rice balls are the best. Hanayo: All right, tomorrow we should work hard during practice. Rin: Yeah! If we practice hard, maybe we could be the top school idols in Japan someday.

Part 2

Nico: The weather is beautiful. Maki: Yeah. Nico: When the weather's this nice, you just want to get out and play with Nico, don't you? Maki: I don't. Nico: Geez,don't mince words or anything! It's a day off from practice! So why do we still have to study? Maki: Doesn't it make sense to study if you can't practice? And you spelled that word wrong there. Nico: Um... I spelled it wrong on purpose, can't you see that? Maki: Why would you make a mistake on purpose? I mean, if you want to play, why not finish your homework first? Nico: What about you, Maki? You've just been sitting there reading a book this whole time. Maki: I've already finished the homework I have right now. Nico: Pfft... Maki: And I've already prepared for the next lesson... Nico: Geez, you're like some kind of freak... Maki: You shouldn't say such mean things about people. Besides, if you did your homework every day like you should, then you wouldn't end up like this. Maki: I bet you were the type of kid that started doing her homework the day before summer break ended, weren't you? Nico: Sh-shut up! You're good at studying, Maki, so you can't possibly understand how I feel! Maki: No, it's not that I don't understand. Nico: Huh? You're not good at studying? Maki: I am great at studying. But that doesn't mean that there aren't things that I'm can't do. Nico: There are things you can't do? Maki: Of course. Nico: What can't you do? Maki: That's... irrelevant to this conversation. Nico: Once we've come this far you can't really say "that's irrelevant to this conversation..." Maki: Ugh... I shouldn't have said anything... Nico: So? What is it? What can't you do, Maki? Maki: You don't have to be so excited over this, all right? Nico: I'm happy because I think I might be able to help you with something. So what can't you do? Maki: That... You know, that "idol" stuff. Nico: Huh? Maki: I can't do that "idol" stuff you do! We should just drop the conversation right here. Nico: Wait, are you saying... Are you saying that you want to do stuff like Nico-Nico-Ni? Maki: No! Well... No... More like those cutesy idol-type poses? And stuff. Nico: Maki! Maki: Geez... Stop giving me that excited look already! I just thought about it for a moment! Just a little bit... Nico: Is that all? You should've just said so. I'd be happy to help you. Maki: Nico... Nico: It's too bad we can't use the rooftop today, but we can still practice something else. Nico: OK, repeat after me! "Nico-Nico-Ni! My name's Nico, and I love to study!" Maki: No way! And anyway, isn't it a blatant lie for you to say, "I love to study"? Nico: You've got an awful lot of complaints... OK, how about I come up with one just for you, Maki. But this is a special, all right? Nico: Maki Maki Ma! Even though I say mean things, I'm actually nice. I'm Maki!? Maki: Grr! Are you kidding me? There's absolutely NO way I'd ever say something like that! Nico: Oh, don't get mad, Maki! Maki: I thought you of all people would understand how I feel, Nico... But now I see how stupid it was to ask you in the first place. Nico: Not at all. I do understand how you feel, Maki. Maki: Liar! Nico: I know all about all the cute little things you do, Maki. Maki: ...Huh? Nico: You may not notice them yourself, but you've got all kinds of cute little quirks. Maki: N-no. Stop it, all right? ...It's embarrassing. Nico: But that's why you should show everyone all your cute quirks, OK? Maki: Nico... Um... Uh... Thanks. Nico: It's fine. All right, let's get started practicing. Maki: What kind of practice? Nico: What? Don't play dumb. Repeat after me, all right? OK! "Nico-Nico-Ni!" Maki: Ah... So it's come to this... "Nico-Nico-Ni!" Nico: You need to be sweeter, and more charming! Again! "Nico-Nico-Ni!" Maki: Nico-Nico-Ni!

Part 3

Honoka: Aww... I hate it when we can't practice... Kotori: We were practicing every single day for so long... I think its good to take a break every once in a while. Umi: That's right. Today's also a day off for archery club. Shall we go somewhere? Honoka: That's right. I guess days like this are pretty good. How about we go shopping? Kotori: Let's do it! Umi: I had no idea that there was a little shop in a place like this. Honoka: Wow! That strap you're holding is really cute, Kotori! Kotori: Hee hee. It's a cute and fluffy little alpaca. That stationery set you're holding is pretty cute too, Honoka. Honoka: I haven't seen many stationery sets with pictures of bread on them! And it looks so realistic too... (drool) Umi: Honoka! Don't eat the paper! Honoka: Ah! O-oops! I just started drooling when I saw that... Umi: Geez... You need to keep it together, Honoka. Honoka: Ha ha ha... Kotori: Hey, Umi, Honoka? How about we stop by that arcade next? Honoka: Yeah! Let's go, let's go! Honoka: This arcade is so clean and shiny! I'm going to go look for a dance game. Kotori: I'm going to go look for a crane game... Umi: ....I would be compatible with... Umm... Kotori: Huh? Umi, are you doing a love horoscope? Umi: Eek! N-No! Nat at all! That's um... It's a... Hmm... It's an alpaca! Kotori: What? Umi: I um... wanted to see... if I was... If I was compatible with the alpaca... Ha ha ha! Yeah, that's it! Kotori: Umi, do you really like alpacas that much? Let's get matching alpacas then! Umi: I-I'll think about it... Kotori: All right! I'll get two stuffed alpaca, then. One's for me, and the other one is for you. Kotori: But wait! If I can get one more for Honoka, we can all have matching alpacas! Kotori: I'm headed off. We can get stuffed animals as souvenirs. Kotori: OK! Stuffed alpacas! This one's yours, Umi. Umi: Thank you. You're really good at the crane game, aren't you? Kotori: Hee hee... I really wanted it, so I did my best! Kotori: This alpaca's outfit is adorable! Maybe our next µ's costume should look something like this. Umi: Why is an alpaca wearing clothes...? Umi: Umm... That reminds me. Where did Honoka go? Kotori: She said she was going to look for a dance game. Shall we go look for her? Umi: The dance games are over there, I think. ...Huh? There's a crowd over there. Kotori: There's... Don't tell me, is that Honoka? Oogh... Umph... Excuse me... Please let me through... Honoka: Yay! Honoka: And turn! Honoka: Jump... And a big finish! Umi: Honoka! Kotori: Whoa! That was amazing, Honoka! Honoka: Hi, Kotori! Hi, Umi! Did I keep you waiting? Sorry about that. I'm done now. Umi: More importantly, that was amazing, Honoka! The was an impressive crowd, too... And you're even at the top of the rankings? Honoka: Hee hee... Since I've started being a school idol, my dance game score just keep going up and up. Kotori: That's amazing! You've become pretty popular at the arcade, Honoka! Honoka: Ha ha ha. That makes me happy, but... Umi: But? Honoka: Of course, I'm finding that it's much more fun to dance with the rest of the group! Kotori: Honoka! Umi: All right, tomorrow we can practice. Honoka: Yeah! Tomorrow we should work hard! I'm looking forward to practice!

Part 4

Eli: ...Sigh. Nozomi: Eli, I'll leave these documents here. Eli: ...Oh, sure... Thanks, Nozomi. Nozomi: Hee hee. You're pretty easy to read, Eli. Eli: Huh? What do you mean by that... Nozomi: Eli... it's not good to be impatient, right? Eli: Wow... You saw right through me, Nozomi. Eli: I'm just feeling down because µ's can't practice today. Nozomi: µ's has become a really big thing for you, hasn't it, Eli? Eli: Yeah. It really... seems that way. Eli: But for some reason... it's strange. Nozomi: What is? Eli: Until recently, I always just spent my time after school on student council work... It was just a habit. Eli: But now my habit is to practice until late up on the rooftops. Eli: If I hadn't joined µ's, I think I would've just been content with student council work. Nozomi: You would've been content with student council duties? Eli: Yeah. I think so, up until now. Nozomi: I see... But I don't think that's right. Eli: How come? Nozomi: It's fate that we joined µ's. Both yours and mine. Eli: Fate? Nozomi: Yeah, this may all have been decided from the start. The possibility of "if I never joined µ's" just doesn't exist. Nozomi: To say that you would've been content with student council duties is just kidding yourself. Nozomi: If you hadn't joined µ's... I don't think you would have been content with anything. Eli: I see... I think you're exactly right, Nozomi. Eli: I don't think that I ever really had the option not to join µ's in the first place. Nozomi: Yeah. Eli: It felt noble to do everything that I could as part of student council, in order to try to stop the school from closing. Eli: But working hard towards that same goal as a member of µ's is much more fun. Nozomi: In µ's, you only worked hard for the school's sake? Eli: Hey, Nozomi... You're don't have to tease me, OK? You already know. I really love µ's, and being a school idol. Nozomi: Hee hee. I just wanted to hear you say that. Eli: You feel the same, don't you, Nozomi? Nozomi: Of course. But for me, the most fun is... watching you enjoy yourself. Eli: Hee hee. That's hoe you are, Nozomi. You're like a mother figure to us all. Eli: Oh, the phone... Hello? This is Eli Ayase speaking. Eli: The roof inspection is complete? Thank you very much! I'll be sure to let everyone know. Thank you very much. Nozomi: That's great! All right, tomorrow we can practice. Eli: What about today? We can still get today's practice session in! Nozomi: But it's already evening. Eli: I'm sure everyone else will want to practice too! I'll get the key for the roof, you go gather everyone! Nozomi: OK! Hee hee, looks like you're all fired up? I'll do my best in practice, too.